The Story of Sati
Once upon a time, in a timeless time, long ago- the great goddess who creates the world and then lives as the world, is asked to incarnate as Sati, the consort of Shiva. Without her presence, Shiva cannot act in the world. Shiva is the god of dissolution and transformation. He lives in a cave high in the Himalayas, sits in meditation, and is often preoccupied with things other than his cosmic duties. You see, all that is born must die. All that is produced must return back to the void.
Brahma begs the great goddess to take the form of a women to lure Shiva out of his yogic trance. The goddess agrees, but on one condition- she must always be honored as the great goddess that she is or she will choose to leave the world. Brahma then creates a mind-born son named King Daksha and Sati is born to the King’s household. When Sati turns sixteen, she seeks out and wins the affection of Shiva- he is unable to resist her beauty and power of bliss. The royal parents were not happy about their daughters marriage to the ascetic yogi. And in a fit of celestial malice, plan a huge party, invite all the gods and demigods, and intentionally send no invitation to Sati and her consort.
On the day of the party, Sati finds out that Daksha has done the unthinkable. Not only has he disrespected her beloved, but he has also dishonored the great goddess, life itself. Sati arrived at the party to confront her father and to show him what he had truly done. She then turned inward toward her betrayal, touched the heat of her inner flame, and self immolated.
When Shiva receives the news he is enraged and he pulls a dreadlock from his head. Virabhadra (hero friend) appears and Shiva sends him to avenge the death of his wife. Virabhadra storms the castle with Shiva’s army and finds Daksha, with swords lifted in each hand, he opens his arms, sets his gaze, and with one swift motion beheads the King. Immediately Virabhadra, as Shiva, feels remorse for killing his wife’s father. In an attempt to rectify the situation, he brings Daksha back to life with the head of goat.
To dive deeper-
Sati chose to leave the world because she knows that if the power of the feminine is not honored, true union of masculine and feminine is not possible.
